Concealed

The Creation

The sky is heavy, there's no light to be seen. The heavens were almost unrecognisable. Ash fell unto the streets of Lagos, rubble everywhere. It was worse at the affluent side of Lagos. There was no life. Only a crest of what used to be. Within all this chaos stood a girl....no she wasn't a girl anymore, she wasn't even human anymore. The question now lies, what exactly is she?

"Good morning mommy, good morning daddy" Sonia prostrates kneeling to her mother and father in their bedroom.
"Good morning princess" they both returned her greeting. Bola stands up heading to the kitchen to arrange breakfast for the family, while her father headed to the bathroom to prepare for work. Sonia was left fitted on the bed.

She didn't know what exactly was the problem. She left something was off. The air was stiff, nothing felt right. Something big was coming her way, she could feel it and made her nervous.

She stood up from her parent's king-size bed and walked to hers. She undressed and headed to the bathroom tidying herself up. She comes out letting the steam escape from behind her and water dripping like jewels on her skin. "Tola! Food is ready o" She could hear her mother call her name. She quickly gets dressed in her uniform.

She attended the prestige Eagles Valley School. Standing tall as one of the top schools in Lagos. Knowing their students for their academic performance, athleticism and social skills (though infamously for the proudest and spoilt kids, and well good-looking). Knowing Sonia you would wonder why she was in such school, it wasn't a profile fit. Her father knew the principal and thought his child will be safer and better under his care.

If only he knew what transpires.....

Sonia was bullied cuz she was seen as proud and arrogant. All because she was shy and didn't talk to anyone. She did her test and exams on her own. Her assignments and projects are done beautifully. She was the prettiest girl in school which made people bully her. It would range from verbal abuses to craving hurtful messages onto her seat, to physical abuse. One time she was pushed from the stairs and rolled down hurting her ankle and wrist badly. She told her parents she slipped because her bullies said they would cut her next time especially if she stitched. School life was hard. She wanted to escape it. She had just 2 more years and she'll be done that gave her comfort.

Sonia wears her laced socks and brown leather shoe. Both complemented the blue and white uniform she got on. She stuffed her bag with her books and textbooks and headed downstairs, where she saw her mother dishing the food while going to get ready and her father reading the newspaper while taking sips periodically from his coffee.

"How many years does it take women to get ready", her father grumbled under his breath. " The same amount of time it takes a man to propose" Bola retorted from the top of the stairs leaving Ayo startled. Sonia couldn't help but laugh, she didn't understand how African mothers could do that and so many other things. It was like you needed to have a child to unlock these powers.

"Well done madam" her father pouted looking at his partner in crime betray him. "You know the woman you married don't bring me into this", Sonia left her father proceeding to the radio increasing the volume.

Good morning my people
Bringing you the 7 o'clock news
Reports on the steady increase in fuel, the government have made plans to find ways to curb this situation and...
We interrupt this news for an important announcement
The police department advises all residents to stay safely in their houses, there's been a series of distorted electrical issues
The Odogwus activities lately have been increased, schools and workplaces have been forced to stop all activities for staff and children safety
Please be safe and stay ho...

The broadcast was cut shut by Ayo. " Wetin dey happen def for this country?" Ayo proceeds to inform Bola about the current situation on the ground. Meanwhile, Sonia was stunned, she left something was off but didn't think it would be too big. She picks up the home landline and calls her best and only friend Bimbo. After several rings, it went through.

"Hi Tola, did you hear we don't have school today!",
" Yes I did but I'm a bit worried",
"It's fine everyone is just overreacting and panicking I'm sure it's just a distraction to keep everyone's mind away from the fuel scarcity "
"Maybe..."
"Just be calm, I have to go Mami is calling me"
"Okay na bye-bye"
"Bye"
And the call ended. She drops the phone leaving a satisfying click. She heads to her room to change. Just then her mom comes into her room. "Hey princess " her mom walks towards her sitting beside her on the bed. " I can see something is bothering you, what is it". Sonia keeps quiet at first, trying to gather her thoughts and make up the right words, "Mommy..." "Yes dear". " I feel something is about to happen, something we can't prepare for", Bola giggles and hugs her daughter, " I'm sure whatever it is, God will strengthen us to handle it" She plants a kiss on her child's hair, slowly walking out the door. " try relaxing by the garden, it'll help your thoughts" she smiled leaving the room.

Sonia still wasn't satisfied, she wasn't the "leave everything to God type". Not that she didn't believe, she just felt there are something you just got to do. But she was tense so decided to follow her mom's advice and head to the garden. She changed into a dark flora dress, adorned with roses and headed down....yes barefoot.

She lay close to roses taking their scent and beauty. She was at peace. Letting the wind take her. She could hear everything, the birds chirping, the pond running, leaves dancing in the air. It was all done beautifully. She laid on the ground swearing she could hear a heartbeat, probably hers.
She soon fell fast asleep, she was in a dream or rather a revelation.
It was a field just like her home. The sky was clear the grass greener than ever, the flower bloomed so wonderfully. In the middle stood someone. A girl. Dressed in pure white and a rose on her hair. She had chestnut-coloured hair, she was a bit taller than her with some inches.
She was startled when the girl let out a hearty laugh and spoke
" it is time"
These two words marked a new change in her life

Sonia shoots up, sweating and tears in her eyes. She woke up to screams from every direction.
What in the world was going down.
"MOMMY!", she screamed. She was scared. The sky was dark, the wind was violently dashing the trees making them detach from their roots.
" TOLA!" her mother screamed blood flowing down her head.
What happened, why was she bleeding?!
"MOMMY" She tried to stand but for some reason couldn't, it was like she was frozen in place.
"BABY GIRL TRY PLEASE WE HAVE TO LEAVE" Bola was crying, from the side, Sonia could see her father racing to her mother's side. "TOLA!" He can't run towards his daughter even if he wanted to. The wind was so bad it could take him. He wondered how his daughter was still intact. He tried getting closer, but the wind kept pushing him away.

"DADDY!" Sonia was in dismay. " please be a dream please" she prayed internally.
Her parent's look of helplessness broke her.
They all knew this was it
Whatever was happening was going to take them away, but at least they were together.
Bola took her husband's hand as they both took hold of each other crying and clinging to each other,
Then BOOM.
A shockwave so mighty aviated making the ground split, then a blinding light and then silence.
The last thing Sonia heard was "We love you" and then nothing
It was over.

Or was this just the beginning?